PRODUCER'S FORWARD, Newport Jazz Festival 1970 - George Wein"...the emergence of Larry Ridley as a giant on the bass. Dozens of moments like this that happened last year, and we know will happen next year, keep jazz alive for us."

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Hugh Wyatt"Ridley is a master bassist and is considered a musician's musician - the highest compliment which can be paid."

NEW YORK TIMES, John Wilson"The brilliant Mr. [Thelonious] Monk, accompanied by the imaginative improvisations of Larry Ridley on bass."

LONDON OBSERVER, Benny Green"Larry Ridley is a highly literate bassist, who shows melodic invention in his solos."

DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE, John Sinclair"Larry is among those musicians who are committed to making wider and deeper impressions and to do so in whatever musical context they find themselves... more than most beboppers ever thought possible. Ridley is a perfect section mate. His time is big and fat, as his sound is, and he picks lines that are a constant stimulus, creating juggernaut rhythms that move soloists to play into themselves more and to move out from that point to their listeners' ears and not just to their feet."

In an Email message dated 4/21/2005 11:29:47 A.M. EST, Joanne Burgio writes:I have no expectations that you'd remember me - but you've popped into my thoughts a few times lately so I decided to look you up through Google. I ended up at your website.

I took your Intro to Jazz I and II - Fall '86 and Spring '87 at Rutgers University. The Arts were not in my future plans and I took your classes to fulfill requirements. To this day I recall those classes among the most enjoyable of all my schooling! It was laid back and fun - and I'd never been exposed to jazz before. I'll never forget the day you had each row of students tap a different beat on their desks - until the whole room was tapping out the musical concept you were trying to explain.

My life since college has taken me all over the world. I've learned that music is universal - from classical, to jazz to good ol' rock and roll. Even country has made inroads in Europe! Of course, literature is universal - but in some of the places I've been - exposure to literature is limited. But music? Everywhere!!

I ran across a link on the web this AM - I'm sure you'll enjoy it! Amazing graphics set to John Coltrane's 'Giant Steps'.
http://michalevy.com/gs_download.html

Just another word of thanks from those of us from Schenectady County Community College [NY]. Your's and Don's [Braden] comments at the Williams College Jazz Festival [MA] certainly made my student's semester of hard work and rehearsals seem worthwhile. The kids felt so proud that their performance was recognized as being of some quality, especially when they are sometimes "looked down upon" by some (not all) of the students from 4-year schools.

Our goal here at SCCC is to develop our student's professional skills as musicians who perform, teach, etc. We basically "beat on 'em" constantly to improve and develop a set of higher standards. Your reinforcement of our efforts did much to help make believers out of the students, while giving us further directions for improvement!

It means an awful lot when a musician of your caliber thinks well of what we are attempting to do.

It was great meeting and talking with you at the Williams College Intercollegiate Jazz Festival [MA]. I think you and Don Braden were a perfect pair of adjudicators. You certainly gave those young musicians some worthwhile things to ponder.